Pashtun protesters hold out for ‘concrete’ assurances

Thousands of Pashtun protesters have refused to end their sit-in outside the National Press Club in Peshawar.
PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: Despite being provided assurances by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to hunt down and punish the killers of Naqeebullah Mehsud, thousands of Pashtun protesters have refused to end their sit-in outside the National Press Club in Peshawar.

A 15-member delegation comprising of Mehsud elders had called upon the prime minister on Tuesday seeking justice for Naqeebullah, who had been killed in an alleged encounter with Malir SSP Rao Anwar in Karachi.

Abbasi assured them that all will be done to bring those responsible to book.

Meanwhile, Samiullah Khan Burki, a local Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader from Tank, who had facilitated the tribesmen’s meeting with the prime minister, said that the 15-member delegation of tribal elders were completely satisfied by the assurances provided by premier Abbasi and had called off their sit-in on the night of February 6.

“Members of the jirga which met the prime minister were convinced and satisfied. They had announced to call off the sit and left for South Waziristan. The container upon which the stage was set was also removed,” Burki said.